| September 4, 2002
News Release King County Executive Ron Sims today released his final plan for transitioning the existing parks system into one that embraces a broad new, entrepreneurial approach to doing business. The new vision for parks is based on the work of two citizen groups and an unprecedented outreach program involving thousands of citizens. "In order to survive and thrive in an era of dwindling tax support, I asked parks staff to develop and embrace new approaches to providing vital parks and recreation services," said Sims. "This plan outlines fundamental changes in policy and operations, including aggressive new ways to generate money through partnerships, fees, naming rights, advertising and concessions." Major policy changes are consistent with recommendations of the Metropolitan Parks Tasks Force, which studied the parks funding crisis earlier this year. Recommendations include focusing on key regional assets such as Marymoor Park, the Fairgrounds, and the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, and no longer funding parks and pools inside cities. Transferring or mothballing facilities inside cities will save as much as $6.2 million of the $9.1 million needed to meet the Division's 2003 budget. Under the proposal, the County will continue to operate parks and pools in areas of the County outside city limits, as well as regional trails, regional passive-use parks and open space and ecologically important lands (which include forests, agricultural lands, critical wildlife habitat and open space). Some parks would be closed during the winter months. The Division will mothball or transfer 22 parks, 10 pools and 2 community and recreational facilities located inside cities before the end of 2002. The plan offers a proposed 2003 budget of $16.4 million compared to $25.5 million for 2002. Regional passive-use parks include Cougar/Squak Mountain Corridor, Grand Ridge/Preston/Mitchell Hill Corridor, Spring Lake/Lake Desire, Maury Island Marine Park, and Section 36/Soaring Eagle. Active recreation facilities that would remain a key part of the system are: the Fairgrounds at Enumclaw, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Marymoor Park, Big Finn Hill Park, Petrovitsky Park and Tolt McDonald Park. The county will operate five local pools in the unincorporated area in addition to the Aquatics center, which hosts regional, national and international events. The Renton, Tahoma (near Covington) and Evergreen (White Center) pools will be open year round. The Vashon and Cottage Lake (near Woodinville) pools will be open during the summer. All existing regional trails will remain in the parks system including for example the East Lake Sammamish Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail. The plan calls for the ability to charge fees at parks and pools that more closely reflect the true cost of a service or activity. It also calls for a shift of capital dollars to help enhance revenue generation, for example through campground enhancements or installation of a golf driving range. In response to recommendations from the Active Sports Youth Recreation Commission, the plan proposes Association Development and Operations Partnerships with youth sports groups to operate ball fields and other active recreation facilities for public benefit at little or no taxpayer expense. The plan also recommends that the county code be changed to allow the Division to engage in the full range of activities described in the business plan. Estimates are that it will take three years for the division to stabilize and minimize its dependence on general taxes. However, even the new entrepreneurial approaches will not be enough to fill the parks budget gap. It is expected that additional funding will likely be needed, perhaps through a ballot measure in 2003. "This government must have the courage to try new ways of doing business, it must be patient and fundamentally change its vision and approach to providing parks and recreation services," Sims said. "If we truly respond to what we heard from our citizens, the result will be a vibrant regional parks system that surpasses the system we have today." The full text of the report is available at dnr.metrokc.gov/parks/transition-plan/ or by calling 206-296-8687.
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